LEAVING SOLVENIA

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5 OCT

We had said goodbye to Paul and Yogi by 9 and were headed for the auto route.  We had had to say our goodbyes to Rachel last night over wine and beer as she had left at 6 this morning to go to work.  One of the advantages of many apartments is that when you leave not only have had a great stay but you have made new friends as well.  We surely feel that way about Paul and Rachel.  Hope to visit them again in the future.

We were heading for Piran on the Adriatic Sea and at the very western end of Slovenia.  Since the weather was going to be bad today we decided to put our fate into the Gizmo Gods and took the autoroute the whole way.  As I have said, Slovenia is about the size of Pennsylvania and it took us about 3.5 hours to drive today from the very eastern edge to the very western edge.  That was with one stop at what Vicki called the “worlds best rest stop”.  The cafe/market sold great freshly prepared food and fruits and salads.  It rained on and off the whole trip.

 i don't think they want you to go this way

 the qizmo lanes

 over a mile long tunnel

I find driving on the autoroutes in Europe less stressful than the interstates in the U.S.  The speed for cars is usually 110kmh or 68.3508mpn and trucks 90kmh or 59.523mph.  That said, everyone speeds.  But the trucks stay in the right lane almost all the time.  NO ONE cruises in the left lane, car or truck, unless it is going about 100 mph plus. You get in the left lane, pass, and if you have to you accelerate to pass never mind the speed limit, and then get out of the way in the right lane.  You do not get in the left lane because you are going 2 mph faster than the guy in front of you and try to maintain that 2 mph as the overtaking speed.  You had better speed it up because no matter what you are driving or what speed, some one is always faster than you. You had better check way back behind you on open roads because one of those 100 mph plus guys may run right over you.

Piran is an ancient little city sitting on a peninsula.  The “green brochure” says please do not bring your smoke belching vehicle in our town.  It is promoted as a tourist destination but there are very few signs to it. We found our way to the town entrance.  I have no problem having to pay for parking and walk into town.  But this place did not set well with me.  I am sure it is a lovely town, but we were not going to see it today.

police at the entrance to piran

So, off we went in search of lodging for the evening.  We wound up in the next town, a small spa, casino, resort town of Portoroz  There were very few tourists and they welcome you and make it easy to park.  We got a room overlooking the bay on the hill and just as we started to go out touring, a torrential downpour came.  We laid around for a little while and then said the heck with it and away we went.

Not much to see in this town other than $400 a night hotels on the waterfront, so we drove over the hill to Izola, a proper old town on the water with narrow streets and fishing boats at the docks.

 About 6pm the rain stoped and we headed home for an evening wine on the balcony.

Tomorrow we leave Slovenia and return to Italy.  It has been a great trip.  It is a beautiful country with beautiful and friendly people. Though it must exist, we saw no poverty and only some graffiti in the capital near the University. It is mainly an outdoor type country. Walking, hiking, rafting, biking, etc.  There is only a couple of old towns as I imagine European towns to be.  Several great castles and a few good museums.  I guess I would describe it as a place where you have to entertain yourself with the beauty of the land and the people..